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US in uproar over Congressman Todd Akin's “legitimate rape” comments
Published in Bikya Masr on 20 - 08 - 2012

A United States Congressman is facing a massive backlash after he said that pregnancies rarely occur after “legitimate rape.”
The comments from Republican Todd Akin, who is also running for Senate, was speaking on his strict views on abortion, but it has left women across America angry, frustrated and shocked that a government official would argue that women who are raped have little recourse.
“I think Mr. Akin should look at his life closely and stop trying to tell women what is and what is not appropriate for our bodies,” began New York University student Marlene Meyers, who told Bikyamasr.com that she was shocked and embarrassed by the statement.
“If Akin every spoke to a woman who was raped, I think he would shut up. This sort of language has a place in society and it was hundreds of years ago,” she argued. Her anger was evident. “We are women and these men should be condemned.”
During an interview for KTVI-TV, Akin was asked about his no-exceptions view on abortion, a highly charged issue in the US, and on if he would like abortion to be banned even if the pregnancy was the result of rape.
“It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that is really rare,” Akin began his reply.
“If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.
“But let's assume that maybe that didn't work or something: I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”
His opponent, Senator Claire McCaskill argued that his comments were “beyond comprehension that someone can be so ignorant about the emotional and physical trauma brought on by rape.
“The ideas that Todd Akin has expressed about the serious crime of rape and the impact on its victims are offensive.”
McCaskill, who is currently trailing Akin in polls for the Missouri seat, said on Twitter that as a former prosecutor she had personally handled hundreds of rape cases.
The issue of abortion is always charged in the US, but the recent furor over Akin's comments have taken the issue a step further.


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